Remington buys Kalispell gun manufacturer

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Remington Arms Co. has acquired a northwestern Montana manufacturer of firearm barrels and actions.

The Daily Inter Lake reports (http://bit.ly/WGjKb5) Ted Novin, a spokesman for Remington's holding company — Freedom Group — confirmed Remington's purchase of the Montana Rifleman.

Novin would not comment on the purchase price or plans for the manufacturing plant, located east of Kalispell.

The Montana Rifleman produced 143,000 rifle and pistol barrels in 2011. Last year, production exceeded 312,000 barrels with a workforce of 160 to 170 people.

Former owner Brian Sipe declined to comment on the transaction. He still owns the Montana Firearms Group, a business adjacent to the Montana Rifleman that focuses on making a line of hunting rifles. He plans on expanding that business.